Bottle-filling machine or the like



June 26, 1923. 1,40,211

R. L. NICHOLAS ET AL BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 26, 1923. $1,460,213

R. L. NICHOLAS ET AL I BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fldmi aw june 26, 1923. 1,460,111 R. L. NICHOLAS ET AL BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 jam 4, Mum/0S June 26, 1923.

1,46,2M R. NICHOLAS ET AL BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 m@7%3 757A 4. Mao/N %z// /e c 50/1/6070 Patented June 26, 1923.

ROLLO L. NICHOLAS AND MAURICE GOLDBERGER, -01? CfiICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS TO WILLIAM RATZENS'IEIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE-FILLING MACHINE OR THE LIKE.

Application filed December 29, 1919. Serial No. 348,136.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Ronno L. NICHOLAS and MAURICE Gonnnnucnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (00k and State of Illinois, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in BottleFilling Machines or the like, of which the following is a description.

Our invention belongs to that general class of devices known as bottle filling and capping machines, and relates particularly to machines specially adapted for the bottling of milk and cream. or like liquids. The invention has among its objects the production of an automatic machine of the kind described that is simple, convenient, effi cient. compact, durable and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. The invention has particularly as an object the pro duction of a machine which will be rapid in operation and which will handle bottles of different capacities and regardless of variations in the sizes of different bottles of the same capacity. The same has among its further objects the production of a machine of the kind described which will handle the bottles without injury thereto and with a minimum amount of noise and shock. Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given. The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the machine described in the pending application of Rollo L. Nicholas, Serial No. 241,910, filed June 26, 1918.

To this end our invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is substantially a horizontal sectional view of our preferred machine;

Fig. 2 is substantially a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, a portion of the bottles and cups not shown;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 through one of the bottle lifters;

Fig. 4c is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 illustrating the parts'in changed;

positions;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the same showing the bottles in the positions shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 a sectional view through one of our gauging and bottle carrying cups;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of another form of cup;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in elevation of the capplng'mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 8; and

F 1g. 10 is a sectional view through a portion of the center of the machine, illustrating the vertically adjustable shaft for carrying the milk container. 1

It may be mentioned that in the preferred type of machine shown, the same is provided with a suitable base carrying a movable ta ble or bottle carrier for receiving the em ty bottles, carrying them during the filling and thereafter discharging them onto the capping table together with a milk container arranged to discharge into one or more bottles at the same time, and means for placing caps on the bottles. The bottles, after being placed on the carriers are automatically carried, filled, capped and discharged at a convenient point from which they may be taken and shipped. We have illustrated a milk bottle filling machine arranged to handle bottles of various sizes, such as quarts, pints and half-pints, it being understood that the size of the bottles'and the material handled is immaterial in so far as the operation of the device is shown.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents-a suitable bed or base provided with supporting legs 2 orthe equivalents for the purpose. Mounted on the bed 1 is a rotatable table or carrier 3, the same being centered on the base by a shaft 4 which carries the milk container, as will be hereafter described. As most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 10, the table '3 is carried by a bearing 5, it being understood, of course, that the particular type of bearing is immaterial. In the construction shown, the shaft 4 is adjustable so that it may be raised or lowered, and the same is carried by a bearing 7 supporting part 8 adjustably secured to the shaft. This will be described in detail hereafter. The

milk container 9 is shown in the form of a tank suitabl secured on-the shaft, the same the e uivalent normally maintaining the valve in closed position. When the bottles are raised to engagement with the valves and move the valves upwardly, milk may flow into the bottles, the supply being cut off when the bottles are lowered. It may be; i

mentioned that the table 3, shaft 4 .and con tainer 9 rotate together, the container being vertically adjustable relative to the table.

gear 12 on its under side arranged to mesh with the driving pinion 13 secured to shaft 14 extending through suitable bearings 17,

saidear 12 having a peripheral rim face 12'. e have shown tight and loose pulleys 15 and 16 arranged on the "shaft 14, by

means ofwhich the-shaft may be driven as.

desired. As most clearly shown in Fig. 2, a bearing 18 is provided at the opposite side of the machine, the same carrying a shaft 21 arranged to be driven by a pinion 19, also meshing with gear 12. Shaft 18 drives a wheel 20, which through intermediatemechanism drives the capping machine as will be hereafter described.

In Figs. 1, 2 and4 we have illustrated a number of bottles on a table for the purpose of making the operation of the device clear. The empty bottles which are to be filled, we have indicated with the character E, the bottles which are being filled or are filled by the character F, the filled bottles which are ready to be discharged from the table and capped by C. The empty bottles may be placed on the rotating table substantially at any point between the bottles on the capping table 22 and the guide member 52. Ordinarily as the capped bottles are removed from their holders on the table 22, empty bottles are substituted for the same in said holders,the same being fed onto the rotating table. The holders-travel in a circulatory path so that the bottle is automatically fed on the rotating table into proper position to be filled and thence automatically discharged under the capper, capped and automatically removed from thereunder. As before stated, the bottles are valve members 10 during the filling.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a track 23 or the equivalent is arranged below the table 3, the same being supported by the base 1, or in an equivalent manner. The track 23 or cam member as it may be termed, is arranged with a portion in one plane connected to a portion in a higher plane, as shown inFig. 3, so as to produce cam faces 24. Arranged about and carried by the top 3 and above the track 23 are one or more, preferably a plurality, of bottle carriers 27, each of which is provided with a'stem 28.,-As shown be ng'provi edwith valve members carried ont e discharge spouts 10, springs 11 or v jtion, andv 'carryin t the top Bis as at 29 so asto provide pockets for the carriers 27 when the same are-in lowered osiguides 30 provided for sli ably e stems 28. Each part 30- is provide 'with an extension 33 which carries an-arm 31', preferabl pivotally secured to extension 33 at 32. he arm 31 carries aroller 34 arranged to cooperate'with the trad; 231and a ro ler 35 arranged to en'ga e the face 36 at the end of the'stem 28., is the table 3 is rotated, the carriers '27 are lifted upon-engagement with the roller 34,

\vith the cam face 24, and maintained lifted as the roller travels about the track in the upper plane. As soon as the roller reaches the pomt 25 (see Fig. 1), the roller passes down to thetrack'in the lower plane and the carrier 27 returns flush with the top of table 3.

In the preferredconstruction of device we provide a pluralityof auxiliary carriers for the bottles which may be termed cups. These cups are all of uniform diameter or outside size so that when the machine is adjusted for the same, the bottles are all ac- .curately fed through the machine regardless of variations in the bottle diameters.

In Figs. 6 and 7, we have shown two styles of cups, one suitable for quart bottles and the other suitable for pints and half pints. The cup 38 is provided with an opening 39 in the top, the opening being of a size to receive a certain size of bottle, for example,

a quart bottle. The same is also preferably open at the bottom so that the same is selfdraining and may be easily cleaned, and is also of less weight than if made witha solid bottom. The cup shown in Fig. 7 is constructed to receive two different sizes of bottles. Referring to this figure, 4O represents the cup which is shown with a cross partition 41 and with openings 42 and 43. \Vith this cupthe same might, for example, be provided with openings arranged to receive pint and half pint bottles. When used for half pints the same is merely turned over. The number of cups provided for the machine depends on the capacity of the machine. it being desirable to provide a sufficient number so that the machine may run at full capacity. These cups, as before mentioned, are of suitable size. shape and ma- .by the frame of the machine, and stationary.

The one end of the same preferably exten over the table 3, as indicated at 52. The table also carries a plurality of arms 47 which are pivotally secured on the table by e an the pins 48 which extend down through the table and carry a member 49--5(l, formed with a member 51, the purpose of which will be explained hereafter.

Carried above the table, but not rotatable with it, is a guide member 53 which is arranged to cooperate with the guide member 54, the two guide members being supported by an arm 55 connected to guide 53 by a yoke, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The yoke is of sutiicient height to permit the largest size bottle to pass thereunder. Guide 54 is provided with an end 56 arranged to center the cup and bottle on a carrier 27 at the proper time.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that guides 52 and 53 are separated so as to provide a space 57 which is of sufficient width to permit the stems 28 to pass between the same as the top is rotated. The various carriers pass this point in their lifted position so that it is only necessary to provide a space sufiicient to clear the stems. Guide 53 is extended as at 58 so as to provide a centering face 60 adjacent the capping mechanism, the extended end 59 being adjustably secured to aflange 44 carried on the capping table 22.

. A guide 61 is provided for guiding the bottles as they leave the table 3, the same being extended as at 62 and 63 where it joins with the flange 46 previously described.

In the preferred construction we. provide an adjustable centering member 64 which is shown in the form of a screw which may be adjusted and which forms a gauge so that the bottle is accurately centered under the capping mechanism. The members 47 first carry the bottles and holders along at the point where they engage with the guide 52 and until picked up or engaged by thememhers 45. As they travel along with the top 3, part 51 engages with the cam face 68 arranged below the table and this moves the members 47 and retains the same as they are brought into engagement with the filled bottles, returned to the table after filling, the arm 47 being limited in its oscillating I movement by the arm which engages the peripheral rim face '12 of the gear 12, as shown in Figure 1. It will be noted that member 45 (see Fig. 1) carries the filled bottle for a portion of the way when it is thereafter engaged by the arm 47. It will be noted that the member 45 engages the filled cup at an angle or substantially tangentially,

and as the cup engages against the outer surface of the cam-way 58, the cup is caused to move-or be slid laterally of the table, and

hence moves at a slower angular speed than the table itself, because one of the components of its travel is in a direction transversely of the path of angular movement of the table. As the holder continues in its decelerated angular travel and reaches a po- 61, part of the holder is on the stationary platform 22, and the holder will drag relatii'el to the moving table,.whichfurther dece crates its movement, until at the point shown in Fig. 1, where it is between and slightly touching the cam-ways 58 and 61, it is substantially stationary, and the end of the arm 47 will engage it without shock and cause the cup to roll or slide down the arm 47 until it reaches the point 66, after which it 1s engaged by the portion 67 and moved until it is under the capper, the bottle cup being then stationary and the arm 47 continuing its movement with the table. The bottle is centered under the capping mechanism by the engagement of the cup with guide 58 at point 60. with gauging member 64 and with the next preceding cup at point 69.

I The mechanism for controlling the raismg and lowering of the receptacle 9 is shown 1n Fig. 10 in which 72 is a hand wheel provided with a hub, threaded to engage with the shaft 4. The hub 8 extends into the depending part 73 on part 6 and is formed to the flanged portion 75, which, as illustrated, is in the form of a collar arranged to be supported from the part 74 carried by part 73, 7 being anti-friction bearings. Obviously the turning of the hand wheel so as to turn the hub 8 on the shaft 4 causes a variation in the height at which the receptacle 9 is supported.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 8 and 9, the frame l-carries brackets or socket members 77 above the bearing 18 and these carry one or more bars 78, two bars being shown which are preferably connected together at the top by a bar 79 or the equivalent. Slidably arranged on the rods 78 and guided thereby is what may be termed a carrier 80 which carries the capping mechanism and, transmits movement from the driving mechanism to the parts of the capping mechanism. A rod 81 pivotally secured to the member 20 at 82 is connected by member 83 by means of a bolt 85 to the carrier.

a slot in the carrier 80, this permitting the;

carrier to be adjusted and affording the same effect as if the rod 81-83 was adjust able. A handle 88 provides a convenient means for adjustment.

Referring to Fig. 9 it will be noted that the carrier 80 is provided with a plurality of arms 89 which carry a cross-bar 90 (see also Fig. 2). Mounted on the cross-bar 90 is a tubular plunger casing 91 slotted at 92.

so as to permit the bar to be. extended through the same. The bar 90 carries a lunger 94 arranged within the part 91.

art 91 is extended as at 95, providing a tubular receptacle within which are arranged a-supply of caps 96. The caps are ordlnarily of paper, cardboard or equivalent material. These may be retained in part 95 and in the auxiliary container 95 so that a considerable supply may be carried. The caps are fed from the part 95 under the plunger 94 by means of a member 97 arranged on a rotatable cam member 98 which is carried by one of the parts 91', as shown in Fig. 9. Referring to this figure, cam member 98 is slotted as at 99. The cooperating cam rollers 100 mounted on pins 101 are carried by the part 89. As shown, one of the bolts securing bar 90 in place is extended to form one of the pins. The cam member 98 is rotatably mounted on a part 102 carried by the base 91 to which the plunger casing 91 is secured. As the cups are fed to the rotary table from the capping table, they are engaged by the arms 47 and kept in spaced relation, the arm 49 limitin the oscillating movement of the member 4 by its bearing against the rim 12 of the gear 12.

The operation of the machine may be described as follows: Assuming that the parts are adjusted as shown and referring to Fig. 1, one bottle in its holder is shown under the capping mechanism and four bottles in their holders are ready to be removed, having been filled and capped, but the cups are not received, and being in contact with one another, are moved along the table 22 to the rotating table. One cup is ready to receive an empty bottle, eight bottles traveling to be filled, and one bottle being centered on one of the carriers 27. There are also seven bottles in the process of filling, one bottle about to be lowered to the table and two bottles traveling to the capping mechanism. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that as the bottles meet the guide 52 they are fed inwardly toward the center of the table and picked up by the members 45, thence being moved between the guides 53 and 54 and successively centered on the carriers as they reach point 56. They are thereafter filled and successively returned to the table when the rollers reach the point 25. Thence they are carried by the fingers 4:7 under the canping mechanism in the manner previously set forth. As each bottle is brought under the capping mechanism, carrier 80 is brought down by means of the mechanism connected with shaft 21. The part 93 of the plunger casing 91 engages the neck of the bottle at the mouth and holds the bottle directly below the plunger 94. As carrier 80 descends,

all of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 9 descend with it until the bottle is engaged, as

' described, at which time parts 91 and 91' are stopped. This also causes cam member 98 to be stopped in its downward movement, but the carrier 80 continues to descend so that the rollers 100 workin in the cam slots 99 rotate the cam 98 an this moves the member 97 toward the plunger, carrying the bottom cap under the plunger. scending plunger actuated by the bar 90 seats the cap on the bottle neck, sealing the same. In t e meantime the parts continue to move and carrier 80 and associated parts are raised. The incoming bottle on its holder moves the capped bottles, as well as the filled bottles on their holders along the table 22 and takes its place under the capplng mechanism. As the filled bottles are removed, empty bottles are placed in the movable holders and fed onto the rotating tables.

It will be noted that with this construction and employing the cups, the guides may be set at a definite point and be suitable for various sizes of bottles. Various sizes of cups may be employed without altering the adjustments of the machine. With the smaller bottles, however, it is necessary to adjust the receptacle 9 at the proper height and also change the adjustment of member 83 on the carrier 80. One of the important features of the present machine is also the fact that there is no clashing of bottles nor any sudden stops and starts. In the first place the guides and various mechanisms engaged with the cups and the parts are so arranged that at the proper time they are picked up and gently .pushed along the proper guideways until the same are ready to be removed from the table. This is particularly noticeable after the bottlesleave the lifting carriers where the movement of the bottle is gradually accelerated, as previously described, and then gradually slows up to the point where it stops under the ca ing mechanism.

aving thus described our invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact construction, arrangement, combination of parts and uses mentioned.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bottle filling machine of the kind described and in combination, a rotatable table, a plurality of bottle holders freely movable in any direction in the plane of said table, and means for engaging and sliding said holders on said table in a predetermined manner.

2. In a bottle filling machine of the kind described and in combination, a rotatable table, a plurality of cup-shaped. bottle The deholders freely slidable in any direction in a the plane of said table, and means for engaging and sliding said holdeis on the table in a predetermined manner.

3. n a bottle filling machine of the kind described and in combination, a rotatable table, a plurality of cup-shaped bottle holders freely slidable in any direction in the plane of said table, means for engaging and sliding said holders on the table in a predetermined manner, and means for controlling said engaging means.

4. In a bottle filling machine ofthe kind described and in combination, a rotatable table and a stationary table, a plurality of cup shaped bottle holders freely slidable in any direction in the plane of said tables, mechanisms operating therewith for successively guiding and directing said holders from the stationary table to the rotatable table and centering the same thereon in a predetermined manner and means for thereafter returning the same to the stationary table.

5. In a bottle filling machine of the kind described and in combination, a rotatable and a stationary cooperating table, a plurality of cup-shaped bottle holders freely movable independently of each other in any direction in the plane of the table, and means cooperating with said tables and holders whereby the holders successively and continuously circulate back and forth on the tables in a predetermined manner.

6. In a bottle filling machine of the kind described and in combination, a rotatable and a stationary table, a plurality of cup sha ed bottle holder s freely and independent y movable in any direction in the plane of the tables, means for engaging and sliding said bottle holders continuously from one table to the other in a predetermined manner, and means for filling the bottles during a portion of their travel on one of the tables.

7 In a bottle filling machine of the kind described and in combination, a rotatable and a stationary table, a plurality of cup shaped bottle holders freely and independently movable in any direction in the plane of the tables, means for engaging and slid ing said bottles continuously from one table to the other in a series of steps in a predetermined manner, and means including a lurality of vertically movable carriers for ling the bottles during a portion of their travel on one of the tables.

8. In a machine of the kind described and in combination, a rotatable table, for said table, a fluid container arranged above said table and provided with a plurality of discharge ports on the underside thereof and with means for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough, a plurality of vertically movable carriers carried by said a support rotatable table, said carriers arranged one under each discharge port in said container, a plurality of cup shaped bottle holders carried by said rotatable table, and independently slidable in a plane transverse to the path of the movement of said carriers, means for successively moving said cup shaped holders from the outer edgeof said table and centering the bottle carried thereby on said vertical carriers, means for thereafter successively lifting the carrier and bottle carried thereby to said discharge ports, means for successively lowering said carriers after a predetermined travel on said table, a receiving table arranged at one side of said rotatable table and means for successively moving the slidable bottle carriers from the lowered carriers outwardly from the table onto said receiving table.

9. In a machine of the kind described and in combination, a rotatable table, a support for said table, a fluid container arranged above said table and provided with a plurality of discharge ports on the underside thereof and with means for controlling the passage of fiuid therethrough, a plurality of vertically movable carriers carried by said rotatable table, said carriers arranged one under each discharge port in said container, a plurality of cup ried by said rotatable table, and independently slidable in. a plane transverse to the path of movement of said carriers, means for successively moving said cup shaped holders from the outer edge of said table and centering the bottle carried thereby on said vertical carriers, means for thereafter successively lifting the carrier and bottle carried thereby to said discharge ports, means for successively lowering said carriers after a predetermined travel on said table, a receiving table arranged at one side of said rotatable table and means for successively moving the bottles from the low' cred carriers outwardly from the table onto said receiving table, said means arranged to move the bottle With a gradually decelerated movement and discharge it substantially at rest on the receiving table.

10. In a bottle filling machine of the kind described and in combination, a movable table, a container arranged thereabove and movable therewith, a plurality of independent bottle holders mounted on said table so as to be freely movable in any direction in the plane thereof and movable therewith, and means mounted adjacent said table and arranged to cooperate therewith for successively engaging the individual holders and guiding the same laterally of the table so as to be under the container, and after an interval for filling again engaging the same and guiding them off from and to one side of the table.

11. In a machine of the kind described shaped bottle holders carlUU 4 and in combination, a rotatable table, a support for said table, a fluid container arranged above said table provided with means for supporting the same and rotating the container with the table, said container provided with a plurality of discharge p'ipes from the underside thereof and with a valve for each pipe for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough, a plurality of vertically movable bottle carriers carried by said rotatable table, said carriers arranged one under each discharge pipe onsaid container, each of said carriers provided with a depending stem projecting through the table top, said table provided with a sleeve for guiding saidstem in its vertical path and preventing lateral movement between the stem and sleeve and means for lifting said carriers and stems comprising a track member mounted below the table with a portion of the same depressed and provided with cam faces connecting said portions, an arm pivotally carried by said sleeve the pivotal axis being to one side of the axis of said sleeve, said arm provided with a roller arranged to travel on said track and roller means on said arm for engaging the lower free end of said stem whereby, upon rotation of the table, the engagement cup shaped bottle holders mounted on said table each independently slidable in .the plane of said table and movable therewith and means arranged to cooperate with said slidable holders for successively engaging the holders carrying empty bottles and laterally guiding the same onto the vertically movable carriers and after an interval for filling again engaging the slidable holders and laterally guiding them off from and to one side of the vertically movable carriers. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ROLLO L. NICHOLAS.

MAURICE GOLDBERGER. Witnesses:

ROY W. HiLn, CHARLES I. Conn. 

